It’s human nature. We prefer easy to hard. When it comes to reading, we’re more likely to keep going when the reading is easy. We’re more likely to give up and go on to something else when the reading is hard. Alas, too many writers make it hard for the reader. Maybe they’re trying to prove » Read More
Category: Better Writing
Should I write every day?
Should you write every day? Many experts suggest that you should. Many great writers have written every day. But many have not. There is no “one size fits all” answer to the question. Whether you write every day or not is determined by several things. And the situation is different if you’re writing short » Read More
Expanding Your Book
“I have a great idea for a business book, but when I wrote it, I had only 17,000 words. How do I expand to a full-length book?” Jay was frustrated when he asked me that question. We talked about his idea. It was solid, helpful, and grew out of his experience with clients. Jay thought he’d expressed the idea » Read More
Better Writing: Catching Your Own Mistakes
At one point in my checkered career, I was the Director of Development for a seminary. Part of my job was to go out into the highways and byways and bring in donations of time, talent, and treasure. I’m not a big fan of trooping along the highways and byways. So I decided to send out a letter that would let » Read More
Taking Stock
The New Year is a great time to take stock of your life and your writing. Here’s how Dan Pink describes this period in his excellent book, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. “The first day of the year is what social scientists call a ‘temporal landmark.’ Just as human beings rely on » Read More